Police Officer

Police Officer

State of Colorado post certification required. Starting hiring salary - $36.91 to $39.12 hourly.

Definition: Perform police work including police patrol, follow-up investigation, crime prevention, traffic safety, community relations, and non-criminal police services. The incumbent works in partnership with other employees, departments/divisions, agencies and the public in delivering effective and innovative services. Supports and exemplifies the Mission and Values of the City of Brighton, as well as the Mission and Values of the Brighton Police Department.

Supervision Exercised and Received: Reports directly to the immediate supervisor, as well as other supervisory officers, as required. As instructed, work may require occasional supervision of officers with less seniority during the absence of a supervisor.

Examples of Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Responds to requests for assistance from the public, fellow officers, fire department, ambulance services, and other police agencies. Renders first-aid assistance as necessary.
• Secures crime scenes, conducts evidence searches; interviews complainants, witnesses, and suspects.
• When assigned as a detective, performs comprehensive initial and follow-up investigation of misdemeanors and felonies as assigned.
• Apprehends suspects and testifies in court as appropriate.
• Performs traffic control operations: directs traffic, assists motorists, issues citations, investigates accidents involving motor vehicles, and testifies in court as necessary.
• Responds to calls of a non-criminal nature such as barking dogs, family disturbances, and abandoned vehicles.
• Identifies neighborhood problems and develops strategies for solutions.
• Performs related duties as required.
• May perform special project assignment duties in patrol, investigation, crime prevention, or community affairs units as assigned.
• Solves law enforcement and community service problems.
• Exercises independent judgment within legal guidelines, to determine when there is reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exists to search and arrest and when force may be used and to what degree.
• Gathers information in criminal investigations by interviewing and obtaining the statements of victims, witnesses, suspects, and confidential informants; manage interpersonal conflicts to maintain order; determine the charge to be brought against a defendant based on elements of the offense.
• Consults with District Attorney; testifies in court; writes reports, and writes affidavits for warrant/warrantless arrests and follow-ups.
• Reads and comprehends rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and the law for purposes of ensuring appropriate officer behavior/response and performing enforcement activities involving the public.
• Performs shift work including weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of: the Colorado criminal justice system; major provisions of the criminal code and children's code; provisions of Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 19, Articles 1, 2, 3; Liquor and Beer code; Uniform Motor Vehicle Law; Uniform Traffic Code; C.R.S. 42-4-1301 (DUI); citizen's constitutional rights; current rules pertaining to arrest, search and seizure, interrogations, confessions and rules of evidence; laws and court decisions relative to the use of force by police officers.
• Ethics and its relationship to law enforcement.
• The importance of good police-community relations; police officer's role in conflict management; victim rights laws; concept, purpose, and methods of crime prevention.
• Vehicle stops and pedestrian stops techniques.
• Domestic violence intervention techniques.
• Accident investigation procedures.
• Arrest control and safe use of firearms.
• Operating necessary computer equipment and software for report writing; including Microsoft Word and Office software.
• Crime scene investigation procedures.
• Requirements of clear and concise report writing.

Ability to:

• Learn applicable laws, ordinances, and department rules and regulations;
• Perform work requiring good physical condition; respond quickly and effectively in various situations.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing in dealing with the public, other officers, superiors and administrative staff, this includes the ability to communicate facts to a judge or jury.
• Work well with varied and demanding people.
• Exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.
• Exercise fair and impartial judgment in dealing with people of varied age, sex, and ethnic groups.
• Handle confidential information.
• Work well with culturally diverse people.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers and supervisors.
• Work well under stress.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions and procedures
• Interpret materials as needed in reading federal and state laws and City/County and other municipal ordinances.
• Learn City and County's geography.

Education and Training: High school graduate or equivalent. Possession of P.O.S.T. certificate.

Physical Requirements:

• Must climb over obstacles; climb through openings; jump down from elevated surfaces; jump over obstacles, ditches, and streams; and crawl in confined areas to pursue, search, investigate, and/or rescue. Safely operate an emergency vehicle during both the day and night; in emergency and pursuit situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits while exercising due care and caution and in exception to traffic control devices and in congested traffic and in unsafe road conditions and environmental conditions such as fog, smoke, rain, ice, and snow. In some instances may be required to patrol an area manually operating an all-terrain mountain bike.
• Work in a variety of outdoor weather conditions, which can be extreme. Work near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. Sit, walk or stand for prolonged periods of time, under various conditions. Work in conditions that can be considered highly stressful. Talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. Use close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Participate in physical fitness training including an obstacle course on an annual basis; must be able to exert in excess of 100 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 lbs. of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 lbs. of force frequently to move objects.

Special Requirements:

• Cannot have been convicted of a felony or a disqualifying misdemeanor;
• Possession and maintenance of valid Colorado driver's license and safe driving record for continued employment;
• Must be at least 21 years of age;
• Must possess current, valid Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification OR must possess a provisional Colorado POST certification and pass the Colorado POST requirements to obtain Colorado POST;
• Must be able to obtain valid American Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR certifications.
• New hires must, as a condition of employment, pass the following pre-offer and post-offer tests in addition to the interview(s): polygraph or CVSA, physical agility obstacle course, background examination, driving records check, medical examination, psychological examination, drug screening and fingerprint check through CBI/FBI.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.